EXPLORING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CONCUSSION HISTORY AND LOWER EXTREMITY INJURY HISTORY IN ICE HOCKEY AND LACROSSE ATHLETES

There is limited research concerning the association between concussion and lower extremity injury within lacrosse and ice hockey athletes. The study purpose was to explore associations between concussion history and lower extremity injury in lacrosse and ice hockey athletes. Seventy-six participants who had participated in organized lacrosse or ice hockey were included in the study and used in the data analyses. Demographics, self-reported concussion history, and lower extremity injury history was identified via an online survey. Prevalence values and ratios and Fisher’s exact tests were used to identify clinical and statistical significance of association between concussion history and lower extremity injury. This study observed no statistically significant association between concussion history and lower extremity injuries within either population. There were some clinically significant prevalence ratios. Further research is needed with larger sample sizes to determine significance of association between concussion history and lower extremity injury in these populations.